May 25, 2015 at 11:03 a.m.
Supper held to remember those who wore the uniform
Supper held to remember those who wore the uniform
By Kayla Thomason-
The church's Guild Hall was decorated in patriotic red, white and blue and the smell of the dinner - beef tips over mashed potatoes, green beans and a nutty salad - wafted from the kitchen.
Those in attendance enjoyed the company of others and reminisced about loved ones.
"Jim Pelletier Sr., he was involved in (the suppers) all the time and he left some dollars (to) go back (into) putting on the vet's supper," said Glenn Crass, co-organizer of the evening's meal and an Air Force veteran. "He thought greatly of them and I appreciate all of the work that he has done."
"(Jim) was a (World War II) veteran and basically he was a war hero," added Dennis Reissmann, an Army veteran and co-organizer of the evening's meal. "He was well decorated and he passed away here just a year and a half ago and he was just really involved in the military."
Organizers said the dinner is a way to say "thank you" to all the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country and to remember the fallen.
"It's just to keep up the good work of the vets, what they do, either deceased or alive," Crass said. "It's just a tradition that's always been here and I'm always glad to come to these and be part of cleaning up."
Glenn Johnson attended the dinner. He served with the 101st Airborne and was a prisoner of war.
"I jumped into Normandy on D-day and about on the fifth day, the 11 or 12 of June, I got hit by a concussion grenade and I woke up in a German field hospital, so I was a POW then," Johnson said.
He said he is grateful for the supper and that people take the time to remember those who have served or are currently serving.
"I think it's very nice, just to get together with all the veterans," he said. "It's a great group of guys."
Johnson has been present for two or three of the suppers.
"I know it's Memorial Day and Memorial Day is supposedly for the dead, but you can't forget about the living soldier either," Reissmann said. "I feel that Memorial Day and Veterans Day, we're all vets, so basically it all ties together."
A color guard presented the American flag before speeches were made.
Oneida County Veterans Service Officer Tammy Walters wrote a speech that her son, Connor Delaney, happily presented to those in attendance.
"I actually just wrote really just a one-pager because on Monday I talked to this guy, he called me up and he was telling me this story about his brother who was killed in Vietnam and he finally, after 38 years, got in contact with another Marine that was like 3 feet from his brother when his brother was killed in Vietnam," Walters said. "The family has always wanted to hear more details and this Marine has always wanted to find this family to tell them about it."
She had asked the Marine if he would tell the story at the supper, but he didn't make an appearance.
Connor, a fourth-grader, presented the speech well.
"I like saying the speeches because they are fun to say and I don't have stage fright," he said.
Those in attendance put the names of loved ones who had served in the military in a basket to be read. Both the living and the deceased were remembered for all they did for the country.
"We can't forget them and we can't forget any of our vets," Reissmann said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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